Indian interior design—like everything else that is Indian, is steeped in a rich potpourri of culture. It is a style that comes down to us from our history with mixed influences. Be it temple motif architecture from down south or the intricate carvings seen on Mughal monuments, Indian interior design draws heavily from all these sources. In the end, what we have is a style that is just as composite as our culture!
But don’t let the complexity and evolution of the Indian interior design style overwhelm you. As implementing these is simpler than you think. All you need are some pro tips that will add a desi vibe to your home.
Before you dive into the tips, you may want to explore these 5 design styles we recreated from 5 different Indian states.
#1: Be Generous With Vibrant Colours
Bright and varied colours are the hallmark of Indian interior design. While it’s hugely tempting to go crazy with such a vast palette, too much colour can create visual chaos. Opt for earthy tones – ochre yellows, rich browns and burnt oranges for your walls and floors. Yellows and pinks on the fluorescent side of the spectrum and startling blues and greens can be used for smaller elements such as pillowcases or chairs.
You can also opt for a safe, bicolour theme – using a neutral shade as a base colour and bursts of a peppy primary colours for accents.
#2: Nothing Matches The Elegance Of Solid Wood Furniture
Solid wood furniture is an important element in Indian interior design that reflects our colonial nostalgia. For an authentic look, make the most of stunning Indian craftsmanship and choose traditional pieces with curved armrests and legs, carvings and inlay work in metal or ivory.
Get some ornate centrepieces and complement them with other more understated furniture. There’s a vast variety of distinctively Indian pieces to choose from such as wooden chests, footstools, jharokhas and birdcages.
Everything really comes down to the quality of the wood, so make sure you know about these 6 popular types of wood and where to use them.
#3: Think Inlays And Carvings
Traditional Indian cabinets are a great combination of functionality and aesthetics. Brightly painted and embellished with inlay work using mirrors, stones, ivory, or metal, they can serve as storage units too. Use them as accents alongside solid wood pieces to lighten the mood of your spaces. If you have heirloom furniture pieces, hold on to them and put them to good use.
#4: Homes Must Have Informal Spaces For Family Gatherings
Indian homes also include versatile, informal spaces that allow relaxed interaction. Create different levels of seating using high chairs, sofas, diwans and footstools.
Rugs and floor cushions lend warmth and comfort to decor and can be used liberally. Traditional Indian pieces such as the swing, or jhoola, can bring a playful vibe to these spaces that allow families to come together. You can actually swing it in style with one of our swing designs!
#5: Fill Up Nooks And Niches With Curios And Knick-knacks
Since India has a large and exciting variety of handicrafts, there are a ton of artifacts to choose from to decorate your home.
Popular choices include masks, clay pottery, diyas, leather puppets, crockery, decorative boxes in sandalwood, metal or marble. You can also use brass lamps and pots as functional metallic accents. Let’s hear what our designers have to say about adding desi accents to your home.
#6: Use Fabrics With Desi Prints And Patterns For Soft Furnishings
India is historically famous for its beautifully made fabrics. Moreover, these fabrics can be used in a number of creative ways in our homes – long, flowing drapes for windows, simple sheets thrown over a divan, to carpets and dhurries.
As a part of using Indian interior design, use fine fabrics with dabu or ikat prints for upholstering your centrepieces or for your cushions. Cotton and khadi can be used for side chairs while simpler fabrics like jute can be used for smaller foot stools.
Take a look at all the desi prints that you can flaunt.
#7: The Quintessential Pooja Room Must Have Place Of Honour
A place of worship within the house is a typical feature of Indian interior design. We usually do this in the form of altars or pooja rooms. It is advisable to keep pooja room designs as traditional as possible so use either stone (marble or granite) or wood.
For inspiration, check out our best pooja room designs that will inspire you.
#8: Fill Up The Walls With Folk Art Forms
They say that the flavour of food changes every 50 km in India. And the rule applies to local art as well. Whether it is the Warli paintings from Maharashtra or Madhubani art from Bihar, there is no end to the options you have. When we have such a wealth of traditional art forms, why not put them to good use while doing home interiors. You can support local artists by having a statement wall painted by them or pick a wallpaper with these desi motifs.
PRO TIP: Jazzing It Up With Jaalis!
The quintessential jaali pattern is more than just a passing trend. Infact, it has survived and evolved over centuries because it is a great combination of form and function. You can use jaalis in your home as partitions, doors, wall panels, in pooja rooms, furniture and ceiling designs. Do not miss exploring the complete style evolution of jaalis.
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